Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-13
Countess N2rODa.
By wILKIE COLLINS.

"DEAR AUNT AUAES. Our BONerueSS IL
going away. She has Ind money left to her
and house OF her own. We have had cake
md wine to drink her health. You promised
TO be our governess IL we wanted another.
We want you. Mamma knows nothing about
this. Please come before mamma can get
another governess Your loving Lucy who
writes this Clara and Blanche have tried to
write, too, but they are too youag to do it
They blot the paper"
~Your eldest niece" Agnes explained. as
Henry looked ut her in amazement "The
children used TO call ME aunt when l was
staying with their mother In Ireland, in the
autumn. The three girls were my inseparnble
companions-they are the most charming
children / know. 1t is quite true that |
offered to be their governess, il they ever
wanted one, on the day when l left them to
return to London. was writing to propose
1t to their mother just before you came"
HNot seriouslyP Henry exclaimed.
Agnes placed her unfinished letter in his
hand. Enough Of it had been written to show
that she did seriously propose to enter the
household of Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen Westwick
us governess to their children Henry's be-
wilderment was not to be expressed in words.
"They won't believe you are in earnest"
he said.
"Why mott" Agnes asked, quietly.
'You are my brother Stephens cousin;
you are his wife's old friend.n
'All tho more reason, Henry, for trusting
me with the charge Of their children"
"Dut you are their equal; you are not
Obliged to gain your living by teaching.
There is something absurd in your entering
their service as a governess.n
''What is there absurd in i'll The children
love me; the mother loves me; the father has
shown me innumerab!e instances Of his true
friendship and regard. am the very woman
for the place, and as to my education, must
have completely forgotten it, indeed, if l
am not fit to teach three children. the eldest
of whom is only II years old. You say
am their equal Are there no other women
who serve as governeSs, and who are the equals
of the persons whom they servel Besides,
1 don't know that am their equal Have
not heard that your brother Stephen was the
next heir to the titlel VIII he not be the new
lord! Never mind answering me. We won't
dispute whether am right or wrong in turn
ing governess; we will wait the event. / am
weary of my lonely, useless existence here,
and eager to make my life more happy and
more useful in the household Of all others in
which / should most like to have place. II
you will look again you will see that l have
these personal considerations still to urge be-
fore finish my letter. You don't know your
brother and his wife as we'll as do If you
doubt their answer. / believe they have
courage enough and heart enough to say yes.
Henry submitted without being convinced
He was a man who disliked all eccentric
departures from custom and routine, and he
felt especially suspicious of the change pro-
Ia, fl,a lffa nF With iufnr.
ests to occupy her mind she might be less
favorably disposed to listen to him on the
next occasion when he urged his suit. The
influence of the "lonely, useless existence" of
which she complained was distinctly an infn-
ence In his favor. While her heart was
empty, her heart was accessible But with
his Iieces in full possession Of it, the clouds Of
doubt overshadowed his prospects He knew
the sex well enough to keep these purely self
ISL perpexities to himself The waiting pol
icy was especially the policy to pursue with
woman us sensitive us Agnes. II he once
offended her delicacy he was lost. For the
moment he wisely controlled himself and
changed the subject.
any little niece's letter has had an effect, ="
he said, switch the child never con-
templated in writing it. She has just re-
minded me OF one of the objects that had in
calling on you today"
Agnes looked ct the child's letter. allow
does Lucy do thatin she asked.
"Lucys governess is not the only lucky
person who has had money left her." Henry
answered as your old nurse in the houser
"You don't mean to say that nurse has got
legacy"
''She has got hundred pounds. Send for
her, Agnes, while show you the letter.
He took handful of letters from his
pocket and looked through them, while Agnes
rang the bell Returning to him. she noticed
a printed letter among the rest which lay
upon the table 1t was prospectus" and
the title of it was "Palace Hotel Company of
Venice Nimited)." The two words, palace
Rnd "Venice," instantly recalled her mind to
the unwelcome visit of Lady Montbarry.
"What Is thatp she asked, pointing to the
title.
Henry suspended his search and glanced at
the prospectus. "A really promising specu-
lation," he said. Large hotels always pay
well if they arc well managed. / know the
man who is appointed TO be manager Of this
hotel when it is opened to the public, and 1
have such entire confidence in him that
have become opo of the shareholders of the
company"
The reply did not appear TO satisfy Agnes.
"Why is the hotel called the Palace hotelP 1"
she inquired
Henry looked at her, and at once pene-
trated her motive for asking the question.
YES" he said, sit is the palace that Mont
barry hired at Venice, and it has been pur-
chased by the company to be changed into
nn hoteLH
Agnes turned away in silence and took a
chair ut the further end OF the rooli Henry
had disappointed her. His income as a
younger son stood in need, as she well knew,
of all the additions he could make to it by
successful speculation. But she was unrea-
sonablc enough, nevertheless, to disapprove OF
bis attempting to make money already out OF
the house in which his brother had died. III
capable Of understanding this purely senti-
mental view Of plain matter Of business,
Henry returned TO his papers, in some per-
plexity at the sudden change in the manner
Of Agnes toward him. Just as be found the
letter Of which Inc was in search the nurse
made her appearance. He glanced at Agnes,
expecting that she should speak first She
never even looked up when the nurse came in.
IT was left TO Henry to tell the old woman
why the bell had summoned her 10 the draw
ing room.
swell; nurse" he said, "you have had
windfall OF luck. You have had o legacy
left you Of el0O"
The nurse showed no outward signs Of ex-
ultation. She waited little 10 get the an
nouncement of the legacy settled in her
mind-nnd then she said, quietly: "Master |
Henry, who gives me that money, IL you |
pleasef
"My late brother, Lord Montbarry, gives it
10 YOU" (Agnes instantly looked up, inter-
l.. al.